Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Wednesday's Forecast
Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Dry and sunny
Extensive sunshine. The mountains free of cloud once any early mist patches disperse.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
Bright sunshine
Beware of sunburn from bright spring sunshine, despite feeling cool in any breeze on higher terrain.
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Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Dry and sunny
Extensive sunshine. The mountains free of cloud once any early mist patches disperse.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
Bright sunshine
Beware of sunburn from bright spring sunshine, despite feeling cool in any breeze on higher terrain.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 29th April 2026
Last updated
Tue 28th Apr 26 at
4:24PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Dry with extensive strong sunshine all day, beware sunburn. Patchy low-level fog soon clearing early morning. Fairly light wind for much of the Highlands, but gustier further southwest. Strong and gusty easterlies for England and particularly Wales, powerful gale-force gusts downslope in places.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Light wind. Warm sunshine.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southeasterly or variable, 10mph, often less in morning. Increasing a little later afternoon onward, gusty 20mph in places.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible much of day, some more noticeable gusts later.
How Wet?
No rain expected
Cloud on the hills?
Hills clear
Patchy fog from dawn in glens, briefly some fog lifting onto lower hill slopes mostly south Cairngorms NP, but soon dissipating to be clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Practically certain
Sunshine and air clarity?
Widely sunny. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C rising to 10 to 12C, warmest toward the Monadhlaith and northwest Cairngorms. (Locally above 20C in glens toward west by afternoon)
Freezing Level
Above the summits. Slight frost at dawn in sheltered glens.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 30th April 2026
Last updated
Tue 28th Apr 26 at
4:24PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southeasterly 20 to 35mph, gusty particularly more eastern hills and in places downslope from northern corries.
Effect of the wind on you?
Varied but some noticeable gusty spots, more blustery affecting balance on some slopes, not just the high tops.
How Wet?
No rain expected
Cloud on the hills?
None expected
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Practically certain
Sunshine and air clarity?
Extensive sunshine, some thin high cloud at times. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C rising to 10 to 12C afternoon, warmest northwestern areas toward Monadhliath. Feeling near freezing directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. Slight frost in glens at dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 1st May 2026
Last updated
Tue 28th Apr 26 at
4:24PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly, 15 to 20mph, occasional gusts developing, especially if showers occur.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly fairly small.
How Wet?
Risk a burst of rain later
High uncertainty - likely only spots from high cloud, but mainly later in day, local bursts of rain may form, possibly thundery.
Cloud on the hills?
Clear most or all day
The mountains substantially clear all day, but later if a shower occurs, odd patches may form at various heights.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Above 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun fairly weak through a veil of high cloud, which may extend across the sky. Visibility very good, slight haze develops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10C to locally 12C afternoon, then tending to lower into evening from west.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Dry and sunny through Thursday, but windy with powerful gusts particularly England and Wales. Then a change to more mixed conditions, with sporadic bursts of rain developing on Friday. In the short-term, very dry grass and moorland conditions over mountain terrain continues to present a very high fire risk. Lower pressure into the Bank Holiday weekend - cooler with a mix of sunny spells and showers in the extended forecast, but uncertain local details. Higher Scottish mountains particularly toward the north at least briefly dropping to around freezing over the weekend. Also expect slight frost more widely in sheltered valleys up to dawn through this week and the weekend where skies are clear.